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The Western Coastal and Marine Geology Team of the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) studies the Pacific coast of the Western United States. Team scientists conduct marine research, monitor ocean processes, and provide information about geologic hazards, environmental conditions, habitats, and energy and mineral resources. USGS activities help managers at all levels of government and in the private sector make informed decisions about the use and protection of national coastal and marine resources |
The Western Coastal and Marine Geology Team consists of about 120 people located in Santa Cruz and Menlo Park, California. Work and staff are integrated with the other USGS Coastal and Marine Geology centers in Woods Hole, Massachusetts, and St. Petersburg, Florida.
Tsunami Hazards: USGS researchers are working with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and other organizations to develop probabilistic inundation-hazard maps for use by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). They are also seeking evidence of ancient tsunamis in southern California that may be associated with the huge landslide deposits identified in offshore bathymetric and seismic-reflection data.
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| Drifter equipped with navigation system and radio transmitter tracks the movement of newly spawned coral larvae in Hawaii. |
Benthic Habitats: Sea-floor characteristics affect the distribution, abundance, and behavior of bottom-dwelling fish and shellfish of commercial and recreational value. USGS scientists are mapping benthic (sea floor) habitats offshore California and Alaska to better understand seabed dynamics and to support State and national management efforts.
Landslides: Team scientists are using ground-penetrating radar and other remote-sensing tools to study landslides and ground failures in coastal environments of central California, Puget Sound (Washington), and Alaska. A project with the California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) is investigating recent and historical landslides along the Big Sur coast to assess the hazard for California Highway 1 and to determine impacts on the coastal environment.
Coral Reefs: USGS scientists are mapping the distribution and condition of coral reefs as part of a national effort to understand and protect these fragile environments. Projects are underway in Hawaii in cooperation with the National Park Service, the University of Hawaii, and others.
Puget Sound Nearshore Project: USGS scientists are investigating present-day water-circulation and sediment-transport patterns in nearshore environments of Puget Sound, Washington, to document the characteristics, evolution, and geologic processes of estuarine and marine habitats. This work contributes to the Puget Sound Nearshore Ecosystem Restoration Project, a cooperative effort involving the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and many State and local agencies.
Southern California Sediment: Team scientists are studying the distribution of sediment and pollutants offshore heavily populated southern California. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and local sanitation districts help support this work, which includes investigating and modeling processes that transport sediment and pollutants through coastal waters.
Earthquake Hazards: The USGS is mapping and documenting the locations, geometry, slip rates, and earthquake-recurrence intervals of active faults offshore California and the Pacific Northwest-information essential for seismic-hazard assessment and mitigation.
Extreme-Event Response: After wildfires ravaged southern California in fall 2003, USGS researchers deployed instruments off the Santa Clara River, which drains one of the largest coastal watersheds in the region. These instruments recorded the transport of a large volume of sediment washed to the ocean by erosion of the denuded slopes. A followup coring study was conducted to determine the amount and chemical composition of this sediment and its effects on the marine environment.
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| U.S. Geological Survey scientists about to deploy a video sled to study benthic habitats in Glacier Bay, Alaska. |
Dam Removal: Thousands of small dams in the United States will be removed during the 21st century, owing to their age or to ecosystem-restoration efforts. USGS scientists are preparing to monitor sediment released by the removal of two dams on the Elwha River in Washington in order to determine how this sediment affects local habitats and water quality.
By Helen Gibbons
Edited by George A. Havach
Graphic design by Stephen L. Scott
For questions about the content of this report, contact Helen Gibbons
For more information contact:
Dr. Samuel Y. Johnson, Chief Scientist
USGS Pacific Science Center
400 Natural Bridges Dr.
Santa Cruz, CA 95060
(831) 427-4746, sjohnson@usgs.gov
http://walrus.wr.usgs.gov/
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URL of this page: https://pubs.usgs.gov/fs/2004/3075/
Maintained by: Michael Diggles
Created: September 13, 2004
Last modified: September 13, 2004 (mfd)